Light-projecting device



April 30, 1929. c. A. B. HALVORSON, JR 1,711,479

LIGHT PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1, 1925 Hus Ahtorneg.

Patented Apr. 31), 19 29. 7 p

UNITED STATESTPATEFNT, OFFICE.

eRoMwELL A. B. HALVORSON, an, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, essreuon T0 GEN-ERAL muc'rmcoomimx, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

LIGHT-PROJEC TTNG DEVICE.

Application filed September 1, 1925. Serial No. 53,905.

do not admit ofadjustment and for that rea-,'

son it is not feasible to use standard devices at street intersectionswhere the'streets do not cross each other at right angles, or Where thestreets do not run directly into ,one another.

It is an object of my invention to 'provide a light projecting deviceadapted for use as a ,traflic signal in which the light projectingelement'maybe adjusted so thatthe beam may be sifted from one positionto another. standard equipment becomes more flexible and is adapted tobe morereadily used under varyin' conditions.

The features of my invention will be readily understood from thefollowing specification and drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a traiiicsignal 1n elevation .comprlsing three sectlons,

each section having a number of light project-' ing elements andcomprising the features of my invention. tions in perspective. In thisfigure one ofthe light projectors is shown inposition. Fig.- 3 shows oneof the projectors section. Fig. 4: is a rear view of the projector inFig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing,

it will be seen that the unit shown in Fig. 1 is mounted upon apedestal2. The unit is provided with a canopy 3and with three intermediatesections 4, 5, and 6. One of these sections is shown in Fig. 2 enlargedand in perspective. In Fig. 2 one of the light projectors is shown inposition and tilted. By referring-to Fig. 3 it will be seen that theprojector; comprises a reflector element 7. This reflector is providedwith a rear opening through which the socket 8 for supportingthe lightbulb projects. The reflector is also provided with a front openingthrough which the rays which go to make up the beam pass forward. Therear portion of the reflector immediately aroun'dthe rear opening andextending some distance is in the form of a surface of revolution andmay be 'parab-.'

oloidal, for example. Beyond the paraboloidal region and extending asfar as the region 9, appearsthe section 10 'whichis also in the form ofa surface of revolution, spherical, for example. The portion of thereflector 11 to the right of the ridge 9 isalso With a device of thischaracter a Fig. '2 shows one of the sec in the form of a surface ofrevolution, and also may be spherical. Beyond the spherical region 11the reflect-or is provided with a fiarin portion 12 which-is also in theform'of a sur ace of revolution, and may be paraboloidal. i

The holder forthe reflector comprises a collar 13 which adapt-ed to besecured to one ofthe sections, such'as the section in Fig. 2,byanysuitable means, such as the screws 14. The holder is provided witha r'earwardly projecting flange 15, from which the spider arms 16 proect rearwardly, the.

opening through which the socket Sprojects and to which the socket isclamped by means.

of a. clamping band 22. The collar section23 cisions to enable the band22 to draw the collar 23 tightly about the socket. 'It will be seen thatthe eap 21 is provided with a hood 24 which is integral with the cap 21,and which of the cap is provided with a number of inserves as aresilient member, and against slide when the unit is being adjusted.

seen that-the holderfor the reflector. is in the nature of what may betermed an eye which the ends of the spider arms-16 rest and With theconstruction described it will be ball socket, within which thereflector and its collar 18'hood'24 andcap 21 slide. Thesupport is inthe nature of a universal joint so that the reflector may be tilted asindicated w in Fig. 2, or in any other position about the axis of thesupport within certain limits. Therefore, the beam may be lowered, orshifted tothe right or to the left, or to any intermediate positionwithin a limited range determined by the size of the opening of thecollar 13. It will be understood that the I shifted to one side so thatthe axis of the projecting element may fall in the same plane with aline downthe center of the street.

It will be seen, therefore, that the reflector is mounted. upon one ofthe elements of a ball and socketljoint and so. supported that the axisof the reflector may be caused to describe a cone. v Furthermore, thereflector is so mounted that it may be rotated about its own axis. Itwill be further seen that the reflector is in the nature of a surface ofmyolution having a major diameter in the proximity of the ridge 9, andthat the socket supports the reflector along regions on either side ofthe or diameter. 4

While Lhave described my invention in connection with a device ofspecific construction as illustrated, it will be understood that I donot wish to be limited to this specific construction, inasmuch as, inview of the specification and disclosure, variations and modificationsmay be readily constructed which do not depart from the spirit of theinvention nor from the scope of the claims.

VVhatli claim as new and desire to secure by V Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. In a light projector, a reflector, a ball and socket joint structure,said reflector being mounted within the ball element of said structurewhereby the reflector may be adjusted by adjusting said ball element,said reflector having the general contour of a focalizing-surface, andhaving a maximum diameter along a plane transverse the axis of thereflector, said reflector having also a front bearlng surface about theopening of the reflector on one side of said plane and a rear bearingsurface about the axis of the reflector on the opposite'side oftheplane, said bearing surfaces constituting the ball element of the saidstructure, resilient elements projecting rearwardly from the socketelement, arranged about the axis of the reflector and'converging towardsaid axis and a resilient member ene s nearest'the axis of the reflectorforholding the reflector in place in the socket element.

2. In combination, a focalizing reflector substantially globular in formhaving a rear opening and a front opening, the axis of the the ends ofsaid resilient elements.

1,71 ave substantially globular in form having a rear opening and afront opening, the axis of the reflector extending through both of saidopenings, a bearing element in the form of a collar covering the frontregion of the reflector about the front op-ening, a separate andadditional bearing element covering the rear region of the reflectorabout the said rear opening, a socket for supporting the reflector and1ts bearings, and resilient means for clamping the reflector in saidsocket between said bearing elements.

4:. In a light projector, in combination, a support, a frame, said framebeing anchored to said support, a ball reflector, said reflector havinga focalizing region and having an axis of projection passing throughsaid region, a light source mounted within said focalizing region, a:bearing for the ball on said frame formed about an opening in saidsupport and about an axis through said'opening, a portion of said ballextending through said opening said'axis of projection also extendingthrough said opening and strips of resilient material each having oneend an-.

chored to said frame, said strips being disposed about said bearing andabout said reflector, each spring having a free end and a ring in theform of a coiled spr ng in latching engagement with the free ends ofsaid springs, operating to draw said springs toward said reflector andope'ratmg to maintain the latter pressed in its bearing, said reflectorbeing free to move in its bearing whereby a cone may be described with1ts axis about said first mentioned axis. 7 a

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day ofAugust, 1925.

CEQMWELL A. B. HALVORSON, J R.

